At long last, Shepparton Youth Club United is on the board in Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
A 2025 summer that yielded no wins, SYCU could hold only three premiership points to its name due to a washed out clash earlier in the season, but in 2026, there is reason to smile.
Katandra won the toss and elected to bat at Princess Park, but an even contribution across the bowling attack landed SYCU in a quietly confident position.
Restricting the Eagles to 187, a touch over four runs per over was required for United to make its maiden win of the season a reality.
Shobhit Sabharwal, Cooper Adkins, and Joseph Hammond each collected two wickets, while skipper Sam Nash, Tyler Green and Grayson Widmer also chimed in with a pole.
“We bowled really well I thought, they looked really good and at one point they looked to go higher than 200, but our spinners did well to restrict the run rate,” Nash said.
“We had a couple chances dropped - they would’ve been screamers had we taken them to be fair - but it looked like the score could go either way at times.
“We were confident we could chase down the target set.”
Image 1 of 11
SYCU bowler Sam Nash hurls down the Kookaburra. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 11
SYCU bowler Joseph Hammond collects the pill at his mark. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 11
SYCU wicket keeper Jake Callow loses ball spills a potential screamer. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 11
Katandra batters Brady Black and Corey Hickford meet in the middle. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 11
Katandra batter Ben Pedretti shoulders arms. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 11
SYCU wicket keeper Jake Callow removes his glove to fling a throw at the stumps. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 11
Katandra batter Corey Hickford drives through the covers. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 11
SYCU fielder Shobit Sabharwal watches on. Photo by Megan FisherImage 9 of 11
SYCU fielder Joseph Hammond dives to save runs. Photo by Megan FisherImage 10 of 11
Katandra batter Brady Black defends off the back foot. Photo by Megan FisherImage 11 of 11
SYCU celebrating a catch. Photo by Megan FisherAs SYCU put on the pads, Nash stated the key was for someone to bat deep and forge a long stint at the crease.
It was returning clubman Keegan Armstrong that was the man who took to the challenge.
Initially producing a patient innings as the number four bat, Armstrong demonstrated his class as he paced himself and SYCU towards the Eagles’ total.
“Keegan’s a very experienced cricketer, that’s why I got him back to the club, to show the younger guys how to structure an innings,” Nash said.
“He really built his way throughout, and by the end of it, it was a run a ball knock.”
And with Armstrong’s experience, the clutch gene comes built within.
SYCU was eight wickets down with eight overs to go, but a resilient partnership between Armstrong and number 10 bat Hammond steered SYCU towards victory,.
But with three overs left, 20 runs were still required.
So Armstrong and Hammond went bang.
The pair rotated the strike in the 43rd over, and managed a boundary in between to take the score to 8-178, before Armstrong dispatched 12 runs off four balls, in addition to a wide, to see SYCU home for its first win of the summer with eight balls remaining in a captivating run chase.
“We’re feeling absolutely ecstatic,” Nash said.
“We’ve had a lot of close losses, it’s good to get reward for how hard everyone’s worked.
“At the start of the year we wanted to be competitive in every game, which we have been bar one or two.
“If we keep doing that, we can hopefully win a couple more games.”
SYCU face Numurkah in round nine, while Katandra will aim to rebound against the winless Pine Lodge.
THE GAME
Katandra 9-187 (Talon Wilson 41, Ben Clurey 30 not out, Shobhit Sabharwal 2-25) def. by SYCU 8-191 (Keegan Armstrong 84 not out, Tyler Green 28, Kal Rosevear 3-28)
STAR PLAYER
Keegan Armstrong (SYCU): Armstrong’s 84 not out was as strong a batting performance seen this year by an SYCU player, a well-paced innings with clutch shot selection at the death to steer United to victory.